London Barnes Restaurant Guide

This “lively and enterprising pub” is “tucked away in back streets near the railway” among the cute terraced cottages of ‘Little Chelsea’ in Barnes; and is thriving under the ownership of a group of well-heeled locals (including F1 legend David Coulthard). With “smart service”, it is “very popular at weekends”, but now only opens at lunchtime from Friday to Sunday. It is dog- (of course) and kid-friendly, and there’s a nice courtyard at the back for summer evenings.

It’s a long way from the West End and there are very few tourists in leafy Barnes – but you still have to book for afternoon tea at peak times, at this local institution that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and attracts tea and cake-lovers from across southwest London.

The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zep… they all recorded here, but now the studios host a successful indie cinema with a membership club and bistro, featuring an attractive terrace on the Barnes main drag. It’s a popular local rendezvous for coffee and a bite, but perhaps sees no need to up the standard of the food – “such a shame, as it could and should be so much better”.

“Deservedly popular Thai local with welcoming staff and very tasty (if not exactly distinguished) cooking”, which opened a few years ago opposite the Olympic Cinema in Barnes. No reports on its Finchley sibling, but TripAdvisor says it’s one of London’s best!

“The view over the Thames makes it worth the voyage” to this outpost of TV-Rick’s empire (in reality, run by his ex-wife and sons) near Barnes Bridge – but only “if you’re lucky enough to be seated by the windows” – “otherwise it never seems quite to live up to the reputation of a famous name”. The food can be “good”, but “of course it is not cheap”, and too often it is “disappointingly ordinary” – “you’re paying for the name and location, not the food”. More than 50 years after opening his first restaurant in Padstow, the TV chef’s family is reportedly planning to open a venue in central London: no news on the location as of summer 2025.

“Highly serviceable, moderately priced pan-Asian” fare, including sushi and grills, win ongoing support for this six-strong group where “the food is very fresh-tasting and always hot”. Launched by Israeli-born Ohad Kastro in Primrose Hill 14 years ago, they have increasingly focused on a “good takeout service, enhanced by their recently added App”.

“The ever-present staff have been there forever and are delightful”, say devotees of Andreas Riva’s Barnes veteran, which – since it opened in 1990 – has won an incredibly loyal clientele, including a surprising number of A-list regulars and food celebs (including Nigella Lawson and the late AA Gill). Set in a parade of shops at the south of Castelnau, critics note that “the interior is in need of refurbishment” although it has forever been low key and extremely unflashy. Ratings in recent years have been somewhat up-and-down, with regular complaints that its “heyday has long since passed”. That’s not the view of most diners this year, though, who feel its “simple and perfectly cooked northern Italian food” fully lives up to its longstanding renown as one of London’s top destinations for Italian cuisine: “returned here after a long absence and pleasantly surprised by the improvements in quality…”; “still fantastic after many years” and “it’s not unusual to end up sitting on the table next to David Beckham!”

“Very high-end food for a pub” in a special setting – an upstairs dining room with a balcony overlooking the Thames – has made this handsome year-old tavern a “great addition to Barnes”. “The score would be higher but the grub does not always hit the highs”. Founder Joe Grossman is a local boy who owns burger chain Patty & Bun: this is his passion project. Top Menu Tip – “have all the starters and share the lamb shoulder”.

“The base is soft, fluffy, chewy, flavoursome… but also all-round crispy and charred to just the right amount! Very impressive, right up there with the best of them!” – Tim Thornton has “nailed a simple and good thing, so often done very very badly”, creating “pizza with a sourdough difference that’s really well presented, different, and with unusual toppings”: “first class”. His initial Hammersmith base inspires most feedback, but will close in late 2025 (hence no listing) to be replaced by a new Richmond HQ, alongside the existing Barnes and Putney satellites.

Overlooking Barnes Pond, this “great and gimmick-free” Grade II listed pub has a prime location in this chichi enclave. It’s not a foodie hotspot, but “service is really helpful and cheerful” and “there’s always good pub food” to be found. Top Tip – in summer, “sit on the terrace in front of the pub” or in the very large, tented area out back.

This smart little “neighbourhood Indian” with “better-than-average cooking” opened three years ago on the main drag in Barnes, from a trio of friends who grew up together in the Punjab – one of whom runs the nearby Barnes Pantry. (‘Ela & Dhani’ mean cardamom and coriander in Sanskrit).

“The back garden is gorgeous in the summer and very family friendly” at this “lovely local” on the outskirts of Barnes as you head into Sheen. Restaurant investor, Christian Arden relaunched it in 2021 during the tough Covid times and the place has never perhaps attracted as much PR as it deserves for its steaks (cooked over open fire in the garden BBQ), pizza and other fare; and his “fabulous team always really look after the locals”.

“A very welcome new restaurant on White Hart Lane” – this corner site on the edge of Barnes (long occupied by Annie’s, RIP), is now “a superb neighbourhood Lebanese” that gave a number of diners their best meal of the year. “Service is 5 star” from industry veteran Pierre Hobeika (ex-Fakhreldine general manager), and his team offers a classic menu of Middle Eastern dishes plus wraps for lighter meals: “lovely food and very reasonably priced”. The wine list ranges across the eastern Med and “includes the likes of Georgia and Lebanon”.

“HomeSW15 continues to go from strength to strength” – a neighbourhood brasserie (with terrace) amidst a traditionally lacklustre selection of restaurants on the wide pavement leading to East Putney tube. “Craig has led his team throughout the last several years and does a fantastic job, knows all the regular customers and has been the only person in the last decade and a half to get this site to work effectively”. And now the same magic is winning hearts in Barnes at HomeSW13 – “a new version of Church Road” (RIP) but “cheaper and more cheerful”. “The makeover has resulted in a higher energy and more flexible local and the team’s slightly more relaxed approach works well”. It helps that “the food is really good” too – it’s looking like this site is at long last recovering the high mojo it had for so long when it traded as Sonny’s (long RIP); if with a more “informal style” of cuisine from an “all-day menu spanning brunch, lunch and dinner”. Top Menu Tips – “lovely cauliflower bite snacks; top-notch Jerusalem artichoke soup… the blade of beef with garlic mash is suitably unctuous; and the chicken schnitzel with Asian slaw is also good”.